PlanetDance for Windows 5/6/19*
By Jean Cremers with Ed Gillam
http://www.jcremers.com/Free
[*Note:The Author of PlanetDance no longer uses version numbers but instead uses Date/Time stamps due to frequent updates.]
Most of the major astrology programs are updated once or twice in a decade, but PlanetDance for Windows (and Android) has been updated several times a month (for many years). I briefly mentioned some of the new features in the January 2019 issue of The Mountain Astrologer, but haven't explored PlanetDance in depth for over four years (Please look at my December 2013/January 2014 in The Mountain Astrologer for my original review of the program.)
For those new to PlanetDance, it's truly remarkable and powerful. It has Swiss Ephemeris accuracy, a recently expanded date range from 9999 BC to 9999 AD, a complete time-change atlas for the World , the ability to import the entire Gauquelin database of charts as well as QuickChart chart files, and it's free. It runs on Windows 7, 8 & 10 PCs, and there's a smaller version that runs on Android devices.
PlanetDance offers all of the basic calculations (birth charts, progressions, transits, directions composites, and returns), as well as brief but well-written natal interpretations (in English and Dutch), and degree symbol meanings from 11 authors. It includes most of the other common astrological functions too, such as animated biwheels (transiting or progressed), extensive listings of Parts and Fixed Stars (many with delineations), bi- tri- and quad-wheels, harmonics, transit graphs, etc.
However, the current version of the program goes much further, and has searches for Out of Bounds, Zero Declination, and Maximum Declination planets. Eclipse searches, a minor aspect grid called More Aspects, and Chart Scopes, a set of vertical strips showing the positions of planets by Zodiacal position, Antiscia, Gauquelin sectors, Declination, and Latitude. It's Objects Ephemeris can show ongoing positions for many unusual points such as Huya, Orcus, Vulkanus, Priapus, and Black Sun.
PlanetDance can be customized in very many ways. For example, there's a symbol editor so that you can customize the glyphs for the planets, the signs, and the aspects both by shape and color. You can even edit glyphs for all of the extra points used in the program. You can assign rulerships for each of the signs to any planet, the weighting of planets, angles, angle rulers, and the nodes, lilith, Pars Fortuna, and Chiron, and even create hotkeys/shortcuts to many of the programs features. Impressive!
There are functions for many different schools of astrology. The Vedic options include a choice of 49 Ayanamsha, North and South Indian charts, a Dasha and Bhukti listing, a Jaimini chart, and even a Nakshatra wheel. There are many Classical astrology tools including Bounds (by 4 methods), Dodekatemoria, Oikodespotes of Soul, Sect Considerations, Zodiacal Releasing, Solar Valens, and much more. Similarly diverse are the Mediaeval features such as Victor of the Chart, Trutine of Hermes, Moieties, House Almutens, Divisions, Temperament Calculation, Triplicity Lords analysis, and more.
The many graphic screens in PlanetDance are very valuable. The Harmonic Analysis shows the elemental, modal, and yin/yang tallies for harmonics 2 through 12, while the Graphical Chart Analysis has a vertical strip of planet and house cusp positions and graphs showing tallies by element, mode, hemisphere, ruler's house, house cusps, and more. Finally, the Planetary Mandalas are truly lovely.
Because the author of PlanetDance is in contact with many international astrologers, the program is filled with features not found in any other program. Among them are Kabbalistic Degree Positions, AstroPowerShape, Phaethon Ephemeris, Prenatal Forecasting System, Gieles Progressions, the Mercury Elemental Year, Lunation Mandala, George Bode's Charft Analysis, Evangeline Adams Horary, Venus Star, and the Hankar Chrystal system. There's even a brief description of each of these techniques.
The main reason why PlanetDance has such a diversity of approaches is its built-in Astrobasic programming language, which has enabled many astrologers to create their own apps. Astrobasic has 400 commands, a debugger, profiler, and context-sensitive help, and is a priceless asset to astrologers who wish to implement their own techniques.
The program also has an entire query language built into it. Yu can search your files for the positions of 72 points by sign, house, aspects, midpoints, declination, angular distance between two points, and more, as well as for births during specific months or years (or before or after specified dates) and use AND/OR logic to combine statements. This is a very powerful feature.
I rarely have to admit that a program has so many capabilities that I can't possibly mention them all, but PlanetDance definitely falls into that category.
PlanetDance is an astrological treasure trove of both commonplace and unusual techniques. Even if it weren't a free program, I would consider it outstanding, and worth exploring for all astrologers.
23 04' 38" 
01 30' 27" 
03 25' 22" 
27 45' 25" 
22 13' 33" 
21 15' 48" 
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13 29' 02" 
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26 28' 60" 
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27 51' 08" 
29 38' 44" 
05 34' 35" 
21 09' 20" 
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